US mining, energy sectors face workforce shortage

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Associated Press

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A new report says the United States isn’t producing enough qualified workers to meet the future needs of the mining and energy sectors.

The National Research Council on Thursday urged new partnerships to tackle the problem of retiring Baby Boomers who cannot readily be replaced. That includes retooling higher education to produce more people competent in science, technology, engineering and math.

The report predicts a bright future for energy and mining, with continuing demand for workers and good pay for those hired. But it says some industries already face labor shortages and others soon will because universities aren’t producing graduates with the right skills.

About 46 percent of the mining workforce will be eligible to retire in five years, for example, but there aren’t enough younger workers to replace them.